U.S. patent number 5,797,761 [Application Number 08/641,253] was granted by the patent office on 1998-08-25 for power connector assembly.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Kemlon Products & Development Company. Invention is credited to Russell K. Ring.
United States Patent |
5,797,761 |
Ring |
August 25, 1998 |
Power connector assembly
Abstract
In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a
female power connector for connecting to a power cable. The power
connector is designed to couple a male surface connector to a
downhole pumping system. The power connector has a substantially
cylindrical piece of pre-molded insulating material, a
substantially tubular bushing designed to engage a coupling nut, a
coupling nut for engaging a surface connector, and a sleeve. The
cylindrical piece has a longitudinal axis, an outside surface
defining an outside diameter, a first end, a second end, and a
means for creating a fluid tight barrier adjacent to the second
end. The cylindrical piece further defines a plurality of
substantially circular cavities extending from the first end to the
second end parallel to the longitudinal axis. Each channel has an
inside surface defining an inside diameter. The bushing engages the
coupling nut and the sleeve when the secondary molding is in place.
In another embodiment, there is provided a method for connecting a
power connector to a power cable.
Inventors: |
Ring; Russell K. (Friendswood,
TX) |
Assignee: |
Kemlon Products & Development
Company (Houston, TX)
|
Family
ID: |
24571606 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/641,253 |
Filed: |
April 30, 1996 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/320;
439/589 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
13/41 (20130101); H01R 43/24 (20130101); H01R
13/523 (20130101); H01R 13/5205 (20130101); H01R
13/622 (20130101); H01R 13/521 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
13/40 (20060101); H01R 13/523 (20060101); H01R
13/41 (20060101); H01R 43/20 (20060101); H01R
43/24 (20060101); H01R 13/52 (20060101); H01R
13/622 (20060101); H01R 13/62 (20060101); H01R
004/38 () |
Field of
Search: |
;439/589,281,320,367 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Vu; Hien
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Buskop; Wendy K. Chamberlain,
Hrdlicka et al
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A power connector for a power cable comprising:
a substantially cylindrical piece of pre-molded insulating
material, said cylindrical piece having a longitudinal axis, an
outside surface defining an outside diameter, a first end, a second
end, and a means for creating a fluid tight barrier adjacent to the
second end, said cylindrical piece further defining a plurality of
substantially circular cavities extending from the first end to the
second end parallel to the longitudinal axis, each said channel
having an inside surface defining an inside diameter;
a substantially tubular bushing for engaging a coupling nut, said
busing having a longitudinal axis, with an inside surface, a first
end, a second end, a first outside surface adjacent to the first
end and defining a first outside diameter, a second outside surface
adjacent to the first outside surface and defining a second outside
diameter, wherein said second outside diameter is greater than the
first outside diameter, a third outside surface adjacent to the
second outside surface and defining a third outside diameter,
wherein said third outside diameter is lesser than the second
outside diameter, said third outside surface having a means for
attaching a sleeve to the bushing, and a fourth outside surface
adjacent to the third outside surface and defining a fourth outside
diameter which is lesser than the third outside diameter, said
inside surface being bonded to and in a covering relationship to
the outside surface of the cylindrical piece between the first end
and the second end of the cylindrical piece;
a substantially tubular coupling nut for engaging a surface
connector having an inside surface, an outside surface, a first
end, a second end and a longitudinal axis, said inside surface
containing threads near the first end, said inside surface near the
second end being adjacent to and in covering relationship to the
first outside surface of the bushing near the first end of the
bushing, said cylindrical piece having a means for engaging the
surface connector in an alignable manner;
a snap ring positioned between the inside surface of the coupling
nut and the first outside surface of the bushing;
a substantially tubular sleeve having a first end, a second end, an
inside surface, an outside surface and a longitudinal axis, said
inside surface at the first end having a means for attaching to the
third outside surface of the bushing, said sleeve in covering
relationship to the cylindrical piece near the second end of the
cylindrical piece and the bushing near the second end of the
bushing;
wherein the longitudinal axes of said cylindrical piece, said
bushing, said coupling nut and said sleeve are coaxial.
2. The power connector of claim 1, wherein the means for attaching
the sleeve to the bushing is threads.
3. The power connector of claim 1, wherein the means for creating a
fluid tight barrier comprises a lip seal.
4. The power connector of claim 1, wherein the means for creating a
fluid tight barrier comprises an o-ring.
5. The power connector of claim 1, further comprising a means for
engagably locking an insert disposed within each of said plurality
of substantially circular cavities near the second end of the
cylindrical piece.
6. The power connector of claim 5, wherein the means for engagably
locking an insert comprises a sleeve.
7. The power connector of claim 6, further comprising a plurality
of inserts each of said plurality of inserts having a first end and
a second end, said first end defining a first cavity for receiving
an insulated cable wire, said second end defining a second cavity,
each said insert being made of a high conductivity material, said
inserts having an outside surface defining an outside diameter
substantially similar to the inside diameter of each channel in
said cylindrical piece, each said insert further comprising a set
of circular electrical contact fingers defined by said second
cavity, said electrical contact fingers being positioned adjacent
to the first end of the cylindrical piece, wherein each insert is
closely received by a corresponding channel within the cylindrical
piece.
8. The power connector of claim 6, wherein said sleeve comprises a
longitudinal axis, a first end, a second end, an inner surface
defining an inner diameter and an outer surface defining an outer
diameter, wherein the outer surface is bonded to the inner surface
of each said channel, the inner surface of said sleeve defining a
groove for receiving a snap ring, said groove being positioned near
the second end of the sleeve.
9. The power connector of claim 7, wherein each of said plurality
of inserts define a groove for receiving an o-ring.
10. The power connector of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical piece
is made of an elastomeric material said elastomeric material being
chemically resistant, said elastomeric material further having a
post cure temperature capable of causing damage to the cable, said
elastomeric material being able to withstand pressure that would
otherwise damage the cable jacket.
11. The power connector of claim 10, wherein the elastomeric
material comprises a fluorocarbon rubber.
12. The power connector of claim 10, wherein the elastomeric
material comprises a mixture of fluorocarbon rubber and related
elastomers.
13. The power connector of claim 10, wherein the elastomeric
material comprises a composite having fluorocarbon rubber.
14. The power connector claim 2, wherein the cylindrical piece has
a post cure temperature of between 350 and 450 degrees
Fahrenheit.
15. The power connector of claim 1, wherein the bushing, the
coupling nut and the sleeve are coated with cadmium.
16. The power connector of claim 2, further comprising
a cable having,
a first end and a second end, an outer surface and an inner
surface, and a jacket surrounding the outer surface, wherein said
first end comprises a plurality of exposed insulated cable
wires;
a plurality of inserts, each of said inserts having a first end and
a second end, said first end defining a first cavity for receiving
each of said plurality of insulated cable wires, said second end
defining a second cavity, each said insert being made of a high
conductivity material, said inserts having an outside surface
defining an outside diameter substantially similar to the inside
diameter of each channel in said cylindrical piece, each said
insert further comprising a set of circular electrical contact
fingers defined by said second cavity, wherein each insert is
closely received by a corresponding channel within the cylindrical
piece, said electrical contact fingers being positioned adjacent to
the first end of the cylindrical piece; and
a secondary molded rubber piece positioned between the sleeve and
the cable and the sleeve and the cylindrical piece, said secondary
molded rubber piece being vulcanized in situ.
17. The power connector of claim 16, wherein the inside surface of
the channel which is closely received by the outside surface of the
insert is intimately contacted to the outside surface of the
insert.
18. The power connector of claim 16, wherein the high conductivity
material is selected from the group consisting of copper, oxygen
free copper, and trillium copper.
19. The power connector of claim 16, wherein the second cavity
further comprises a longitudinal axis, a first end, a second end,
an inside surface defining an inside diameter, said inside surface
further defining slots positioned parallel to the longitudinal axis
of the second cavity, and a means for engaging the insert
comprising threads positioned between the first end and the second
end of the insert.
20. The power connector of claim 17, wherein the insert is plated
with gold.
21. The power connector of claim 17, wherein the insert is plated
with a gold mixture.
22. The power connector of claim 19, wherein a contact from a male
connector is inserted into the contact assembly in a compression
relationship with the inside diameter of the contact assembly.
23. The power connector of claim 1, further comprising a cable
follower having an inside surface defining an inside diameter and
an outside surface defining an outside diameter, wherein the
outside diameter is substantially similar to the inside diameter of
the sleeve.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to electrical cable termination and a method
of connecting a power connector to a power cable.
In oil field operations it is common practice to produce oil from
wells by down hole pumps that are activated by electric motors
adjacent the bottom of the well. Such motors are supplied with
electric power by cables that extend downwardly in the wells from
the ground surface, and the cables having terminations that are
removably, connected to the motors. Several different cable
connectors have been designed to endure the hostile conditions
associated with the bottom of an oil well.
Some lower cable connectors comprise a molded pigtail which is made
by vulcanizing a piece of cable directly to the connector. The
pigtail is then spliced to the pump cable. This type of connector
is prepared in the factory and used in the field to splice the new
connector to the cable. Because the cable piece is vulcanized to
the connector there are temperature limitations on the
vulcanization process. A lower connector having a pre-molded
insulated piece that can be vulcanized at higher temperatures using
higher quality materials and attached directly to a cable, would be
highly desirable.
A lower connector having a pre-molded insulated piece as described
provides other advantages in addition to the higher quality
materials used. The lower connector and inserts can be sold
together as a kit to be sold by cable repair companies. The cables
can then be repaired on site easily and quickly with a lower chance
of failure.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a cable
connector that may be directly attached to a cable avoiding a
splice.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a cable
connector with a thermally and chemically superior primary
insulation around the electrical contacts.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method
for directly connecting a cable connector to a cable without a
splice.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a
female power connector for connecting to a power cable. The power
connector is designed to couple a male surface connector to a
downhole pumping system. The power connector comprises a
substantially cylindrical piece of pre-molded insulating material,
a substantially tubular bushing designed to engage a coupling nut,
a coupling nut for engaging a surface connector, and a sleeve. The
cylindrical piece has a longitudinal axis, an outside surface
defining an outside diameter, a first end, a second end, and a
means for creating a fluid tight barrier adjacent to the second
end. The cylindrical piece further defines a plurality of
substantially circular channels extending from the first end to the
second end parallel to the longitudinal axis. Each channel has an
inside surface defining an inside diameter.
The substantially tubular bushing has a longitudinal axis, with an
inside surface, a first end, a second end. The bushing has a first
outside surface adjacent to the first end that defines a first
outside diameter, a second outside surface adjacent to the first
outside surface that defines a second outside diameter. The second
outside diameter is greater than the first outside diameter. The
bushing has a third outside surface adjacent to the second outside
surface that defines a third outside diameter. The third outside
diameter is lesser than the second outside diameter. The third
outside surface has a means for attaching a sleeve to the bushing.
The bushing further has a fourth outside surface adjacent to the
third outside surface that defines a fourth outside diameter which
is lesser than the third outside diameter. The junction between the
third outside surface and the fourth outside surface forms a
shoulder that acts as a stop for the metal sleeve. The inside
surface of the bushing is bonded to and in a covering relationship
to the outside surface of the cylindrical piece between the first
end and the second end of the cylindrical piece.
The substantially tubular coupling nut has a longitudinal axis, an
inside surface, an outside surface, a first end, and a second end.
The inside surface has threads near the first end for engaging a
surface connector. The inside surface near the second end is
adjacent to and in covering relationship to the first outside
surface of the bushing near the first end of the bushing. The
cylindrical piece has a means for engaging the surface connector in
an alignable manner.
The substantially tubular sleeve has a longitudinal axis, a first
end, a second end, an inside surface, and an outside surface. The
inside surface at the first end has a means for attaching the
sleeve to the third outside surface of the bushing. When the sleeve
is attached to the bushing, the sleeve is in covering relationship
to the cylindrical piece near the second end of the cylindrical
piece and the bushing near the second end of the bushing. The
longitudinal axes of the cylindrical piece, the bushing, the
coupling nut and the sleeve are coaxial.
In another embodiment, there is provided a method for connecting a
power connector to a power cable. The method comprises providing a
power connector, a piece of cable, and a cable follower. The power
connector has a cylindrical piece of pre-molded insulating
material, a substantially tubular bushing, a substantially tubular
coupling nut, and a substantially tubular sleeve. The cylindrical
piece can be made of a high dielectric material such as a
fluoroelastomer.
The cylindrical piece defines a plurality of substantially circular
cavities. The bushing has an inside surface, and an outside surface
where the outside surface has a means for attaching to a sleeve.
The inside surface of the bushing is bonded to and in covering
relationship to the outside surface of the cylindrical piece. The
coupling nut has an inside surface and an outside surface, the
inside surface has threads. The tubular sleeve has an inside
surface containing a means for attaching a bushing compatible with
the outside surface of the bushing. The cable follower is sized to
be received by the tubular sleeve.
A piece of power cable is prepared by removing a portion of the
outer sheath and insulating material to expose the cable wires. The
cable follower is positioned over the cable. A plurality of inserts
are attached to the prepared piece of power cable. The inserts have
electrical contacts positioned within the insert. The inserts are
pulled into the cavities of the cylindrical piece and locked in
position via a locking means to form a connector-cable connection.
The inserts may be locked in position using a snap-ring. The
connector and the cable are then primed with a layer of bonding
material. The connector-cable connection is then coaxially sealed
by molding or preferably vulcanizing in situ. The sleeve then
slides over the sealed connector-cable connection and is attached
to the bushing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of the connector with the cable in
place.
FIG. 1a is and end view of the connector where the male connector
is inserted.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the connector without the cable
in place.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the connector with the cable in
place.
FIG. 4 view along the cut line 4--4.
FIG. 5 is a view along the cut line 5--5.
FIG. 6 is a view along the cut line 6--6.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a sleeve.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an insert without a sleeve.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an insert with a sleeve.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the connector.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a
female power connector 2 for connecting to a power cable. The power
connector 2 comprises a substantially cylindrical piece 4 of
pre-molded insulating material, a substantially tubular bushing 18
designed to engage a coupling nut, a coupling nut 36 for engaging a
surface connector (not shown), and a sleeve 50 as shown in FIGS. 1
and 2. The cylindrical piece 4 has a longitudinal axis, an outside
surface 6 defining an outside diameter, a first end 8, a second end
10, and a means for creating a fluid tight barrier 12 adjacent to
the first end 8. The means for creating a fluid tight barrier 12
can be a lip seal or an o-ring used to keep gas or moisture from
entering the connector. The cylindrical piece 4 further defines a
plurality of substantially circular channels 14 extending from the
first end 8 to the second end 10 parallel to the longitudinal axis.
Each channel 14 has an inside surface 16 defining an inside
diameter. The cylindrical piece 4 has a means 48 for engaging the
surface connector in an alignable manner, such as an alignment key
shown in FIG. 1a.
In a preferred embodiment, the cylindrical piece 4 is made of an
elastomeric material. The elastomeric material is chemically
resistant, has a post cure temperature capable of causing damage to
the cable, and is able to withstand pressure that would otherwise
damage the cable jacket. The elastomeric material also has gas
resistance superior to the low temperature compounds available for
direct vulcanization to the cable. The elastomeric material can be
a fluorocarbon rubber or a mixture of fluorocarbon rubber and
related elastomers. The elastomeric material may also-comprise a
composite using fluorocarbon rubber. The cylindrical piece 4 can
have a post cure temperature of between 350 and 450 degrees
Fahrenheit.
The substantially tubular bushing 18 has a longitudinal axis, with
an inside surface 20, a first end 22, a second end 24. (See FIG. 2)
The bushing 18 has a first outside surface 26 adjacent to the first
end 22 that defines a first outside diameter, a second outside
surface 28 adjacent to the first outside surface 26 that defines a
second outside diameter. The second outside diameter is greater
than the first outside diameter. The bushing 18 has a third outside
surface 30 adjacent to the second outside surface 28 that defines a
third outside diameter. The third outside diameter is lesser than
the second outside diameter. The third outside surface 30 has a
means for attaching 32 a sleeve 50 to the bushing 18. The bushing
18 further has a fourth outside surface 34 adjacent to the third
outside surface that defines a fourth outside diameter which is
lesser than the third outside diameter. The inside surface 20 of
the bushing 18 is bonded to and in a covering relationship to the
outside surface 6 of the cylindrical piece 4 between the first end
8 and the second end 10 of the cylindrical piece 4.
The substantially tubular coupling nut 36 has a longitudinal axis,
an inside surface 38, an outside surface 40, a first end 42, and a
second end 44. (See FIG. 2) The inside surface 38 has threads 46
near the first end for engaging a male surface connector. The
inside surface 38 near the second end 44 is adjacent to and in
covering relationship to the first outside surface 26 of the
bushing 18 near the first end 22 of the bushing 18. Preferably, a
snap ring 62 is positioned between the inside surface 38 of the
coupling nut 36 and the first outside surface 26 of the bushing 18
to hold the coupling nut 36 in place.
The substantially tubular sleeve 50 has a longitudinal axis, a
first end 52, a second end 54, an inside surface 56, and an outside
surface 58. (See FIG. 2) The inside surface 56 at the first end 52
has a means 32 for attaching the sleeve 50 to the third outside 30
surface of the bushing 18 such as a snap ring, threads, adhesive,
pins, or spring action pins. When the sleeve 50 is attached to the
bushing 18, the sleeve 50 is in covering relationship to the
cylindrical piece 4 near the second end 10 of the cylindrical piece
4 and the bushing 18 near the second end 24 of the bushing 18. The
longitudinal axes of the cylindrical piece 4, the bushing 18, the
coupling nut 36 and the sleeve 50 are coaxial. Preferably, the
bushing 18, the coupling nut 36 and the sleeve 50 are coated with
cadmium to resist corrosion when a lower quality steel alloy is
used. Preferably, a cable follower 102 is positioned on the second
end 54 of the sleeve 50 as shown in FIG. 3. The cable follower 102
has an inside surface 104 defining an inside diameter and an
outside surface 106 defining an outside diameter. The outside
diameter of the cable follower 102 is substantially similar to the
inside diameter of the sleeve 50 and the inside diameter of the
cable follower can be adapted to different size cables. Preferably,
the inside diameter of the cable follower 102 is substantially
similar to the outside diameter of the selected cable to resist
swelling of the cable.
In a preferred embodiment, the cylindrical piece 4 has a means for
engagably locking an insert disposed within each of said plurality
of substantially circular channels near the second end of the
cylindrical piece as shown in FIG. 7. The means for engagably
locking an insert comprises a sleeve 108. In this embodiment, the
inserts 60 have a first end 80 and a second end 82. The first end
80 defines a first cavity 92 for receiving an insulated cable wire.
(See FIG. 8). The second end 82 defines a second cavity 94. Each
insert 60 is made of a high conductivity material. The inserts have
an outside surface 84 defining an outside diameter substantially
similar to the inside diameter of each channel 14 in said
cylindrical piece 4. Each insert 60 also as a set of electrical
contact fingers 86 defined by the second cavity 94. The electrical
contact fingers 86 are positioned adjacent to the first end 8 of
the cylindrical piece 4. Each insert 60 is closely received by a
corresponding channel 14 within the cylindrical piece 4. (See FIG.
3)
Preferably, the sleeve 108 has a longitudinal axis, a first end
110, a second end 112, an inner surface 114 defining an inner
diameter and an outer surface 116 defining an outer diameter as
shown in FIG. 7. The outer surface 116 is bonded to the inner
surface of each channel 14. The inner surface 114 of the sleeve 108
defines a groove 118 for receiving a snap ring. The groove 118 is
positioned near the second end 112 of the sleeve 108. Each insert
60 further defines a groove 122 for receiving an o-ring 124. In
this embodiment, the insert 60 defines a groove for receiving the
snap ring 120. The snap ring 120 snaps into groove 118 while the
o-ring 124 seals the entire electrical contact member to prevent
water or moisture from reaching the face of the electrical contact
between the male and female contacts.
In a preferred embodiment, the cable 64 has a first end 66 and a
second end 68, an outer surface 70 covering an outer insulating
cable jacket 72 which in turn covers an inner insulating wire
jacket 74. The first end 66 has a plurality of exposed cable wires
76 as shown in FIG. 3. The exposed cable wires are the conductor
portion of the cable wires. Preferably, there is a cable follower
102 as described above where the inside diameter of the cable
follower 102 is large enough to accommodate the second end 68 of
the cable 64. The cable follower 102 is used so that different size
cables may be used without having to change the inside diameter of
the metal sleeve 50.
In another preferred embodiment, there are a plurality of inserts
78, where each of said plurality of inserts 78 has a first end 80
and a second end 82 as shown in FIG. 9. The first end 80 defines a
first cavity 92 for receiving an insulated cable wire as described
previously. The second end 82 defines a second cavity 94. Each
insert 78 is made of a high conductivity material. The inserts have
an outside surface 84 defining an outside diameter substantially
similar to the inside diameter of each channel 14 in said
cylindrical piece 4. Each insert 78 also as a set of electrical
contact fingers 86 defined by the second cavity 94. (See FIG. 9)
The electrical contact fingers 86 are positioned adjacent to the
first end 8 of the cylindrical piece 4. The first end 80 is
attached to one of the plurality of cable wires 76. Each insert 78
is positioned inside a channel 14 such that an inside surface 16 of
a channel is closely adjacent, preferably intimately contacted, to
an outside surface 84 of an insert 78. A secondary molded rubber
piece 88 is positioned between the sleeve 50 and the cable 64 and
the sleeve 50 and the cylindrical piece 4. The secondary molded
rubber piece 88 is vulcanized in situ.
Preferably, the insert 78 is surrounded by a protective sleeve 98
as shown in FIG. 9. Preferably, when a plurality of contacts from a
male connector are inserted into the connector 2, they are
compressibly received by the contact fingers 86 of each contact
assembly 87. The protective sleeve 98 is in covering relationship
to the outside surface 84 and the first end 82 of the insert 78.
The protective sleeve 98 keeps the cylindrical piece 4 from
pressing into the slots 96. A means 100 for engaging an insert
comprising threads is positioned in the first cavity 92 near the
first end 80 of the insert 78. The second cavity 94 is sized to
closely receive the exposed cable wire 76. The inserts may be made
of a high conductivity material such as copper, oxygen free copper
or trillium copper or a suitable mixture thereof. The inserts 78
and 60 can be plated with gold, a gold mixture, or similar
conducting material, to resist corrosion and improve the electrical
connection.
In another embodiment, there is provided a method for connecting a
power connector 2 to a power cable. The method comprises providing
a power connector 2, a piece of cable, and a cable follower 102.
The power connector 2 has a cylindrical piece 4 of pre-molded
insulating material, a substantially tubular bushing 18, a
substantially tubular coupling nut 36, and a substantially tubular
sleeve 50. The cylindrical piece 4 can be made of a high dielectric
material such as a fluoroelastomer. The cylindrical piece 4 defines
a plurality of substantially circular cavities 14. The bushing 18
has an inside surface 20 and an outside surface 30 where the
outside surface has a means for attaching to a sleeve 50. The
inside surface 20 is bonded to and in covering relationship to the
outside surface 6 of the cylindrical piece 4. The coupling nut 36
has an inside surface 38 and an outside surface 40, the inside
surface 38 has threads. The tubular sleeve 50 has an inside surface
56 containing a means 32 for attaching a bushing compatible with
the outside surface of the bushing 18. The cable follower 102 is
sized to receive the cable 64 and be received by the tubular sleeve
50.
A piece of power cable is prepared by removing a portion of the
outer sheath and insulating material to expose the cable wires 76.
The cable follower 102 is positioned over the cable 68. A plurality
of inserts 60 are attached to the prepared piece of power cable.
The inserts 60 are pulled into the cavities 14 of the cylindrical
piece 4 and held in position to form a connector-cable connection.
The inserts 60 may be locked in position using a sleeve 108 bonded
to the inner surface of the channel 14 and snap-ring 120 as
described above. The insert 60 can have a snap-ring 120 mounted on
the outer surface that engages the groove 118 in the sleeve 108
when the insert is pulled into the channel 14. The insert 60 is
then held securely in place for the next step. The connector 2 and
the cable 64 are then primed with a layer of bonding material. The
connector-cable connection is then sealed by molding or preferably
vulcanizing in situ. The sleeve 50 then slides over the sealed
connector-cable connection and is attached to the bushing 18. Any
conventional vulcanizable material can be used for the secondary
molding.
In an alternative embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the sleeve 98 can
be bonded to an insert 78 were the insert 78 is secured via a means
100 for engaging an insert. The means 100 for engaging the insert
can be threads. The insert 78 is attached to the cable and pulled
into the channel 14 much like the previous method. The insert 78
plus cable are held in place via the means for engaging the insert
and the secondary molding is done as described above.
As described previously, the cylindrical piece 4 comprises an
elastomeric material. The elastomeric material is chemically
resistant, has a post cure temperature capable of causing damage to
the cable, and is able to withstand pressure that would otherwise
damage the cable jacket.
Although the present invention is described and illustrated above
with detailed reference to the preferred embodiment, the invention
is not limited to the details of such embodiment but is capable of
numerous modifications, by one of ordinary skill in the art, within
the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *